concanavalin-a and Coronary-Disease

Electron spin resonance techniques was used for the investigation of the structural organization of lymphocyte plasma membranes of healthy donors and IHD patients. We found the increased fluidity of peripheral blood lymphocyte membranes of patients with IHD using 5 doxyl stearic acid spin label. The ordering of the membrane lipids increased proportionally to the increase of cholesterol cell content. This is the important reason for the inhibition of mitogenic cell activity during IHD. Measured by the chlortetracycline-fluorescence alterations in the processes of mitogen-induced Ca+2 redistribution might be one of the mechanisms which mediates the influence of membrane structure changes on the lymphocyte functions.

Topics: Calcium; Cell Membrane; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry, Physical; Concanavalin A; Coronary Disease; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Lymphocytes; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Spin Labels

Suppressor T lymphocyte function was examined in 11 patients with idiopathic congestive cardiomyopathy and in 11 age and sex matched patients with a similar degree of heart failure resulting from ischaemic heart disease. Suppressor T lymphocyte function was also assessed in a control population of 11 normal subjects. Suppressor T lymphocyte function was reduced in both groups of patients with heart failure but not significantly, and a wide range of suppression was demonstrated in all groups. These data do not support the hypothesis that there is a defect in T lymphocyte function in patients with congestive cardiomyopathy, but they do suggest that there may be a non-specific reduction in T lymphocyte suppressor function associated with heart failure in general.

Topics: Adult; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated; Concanavalin A; Coronary Disease; Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; Humans; Middle Aged; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

The effects of beta-adrenergic blocking agents, timolol and atenolol (1-1000 microM), were studied on rat heart sarcolemmal ATPase and Ca2+ binding activities. Timolol, unlike atenolol, increased both Ca2+-stimulated ATPase and ATP-dependent Ca2+ binding; the maximal effects were seen at 1 microM concentration of timolol. Both timolol and atenolol did not alter the sarcolemmal Mg2+ ATPase and nonspecific Ca2+ binding activities. Sarcolemmal Ca2+-stimulated ATPase was also activated by concanavalin A (6-66 micrograms/mL) which is known to alter membrane fluidity; however, Mg2+ ATPase was unaffected by this agent. These results indicate that timolol may stimulate Ca2+ pump activity in heart sarcolemma by changing membrane fluidity in a manner similar to that of concanavalin A.

Topics: Animals; Calcium; Calcium-Transporting ATPases; Concanavalin A; Coronary Disease; Heart; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Myocardium; Propanolamines; Rats; Sarcolemma; Timolol

Leucocyte migration inhibition in patients with ischaemic heart disease was evaluated as an assay for progressive myocardial damage. Abnormal results were observed in 50% of patients with ischaemic cardiac disease. The prevalence of abnormal leucocyte migration inhibition was unrelated to clinical presentation, extent of coronary artery disease, or degree of impairment of left ventricular function. Six of the eight patients with unstable angina pectoris and abnormal leucocyte migration inhibition developed life threatening cardiac complications in the follow-up period compared with five patients with unstable angina and normal tests who developed no complications. A similar association between abnormal leucocyte migration inhibition and complications was not observed in patients with angina pectoris or previous myocardial infarction. Thus, leucocyte migration inhibition may be useful as a prognostic marker in unstable angina and may be an important additional variable to identify a high risk subset.

Topics: Adult; Angina Pectoris; Cardiomyopathies; Cell Migration Inhibition; Concanavalin A; Coronary Disease; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Leukocytes; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardium; Prognosis; Tissue Extracts

Delayed appearance of atherosclerotic lesions in cerebral arteries has been observed not only in man but also in monkeys and rabbits submitted to atherogenic diets. Previous observations of ours had shown a Con A positive reaction ("glycocalyx" or "surface coat") at the luminal surface and in the plasmalemmal vesicles of aortic endothelial cells of rabbits an other laboratory animals. The "surface coat" is now reputed the site of lipoproteinlipase activity whose importance in atherogenesis has recently been stressed. In our present observations, the endothelial cells Con A reactivity after Bernhard and Avrameas which was not previously studied in the cerebral arteries of rabbits and monkeys has resulted always lacking in this arterial district. Those observations may help explaining delayed appearance of atherosclerotic lesions in cerebral arteries.

Topics: Animals; Aorta; Arteriosclerosis; Cerebral Arteries; Cholesterol, Dietary; Concanavalin A; Coronary Disease; Coronary Vessels; Endothelium; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis; Macaca fascicularis; Rabbits

Topics: Adult; Anesthesia, General; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Cardiopulmonary Bypass; Circadian Rhythm; Concanavalin A; Coronary Disease; Female; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Lymphocytes; Male; Middle Aged; Phytohemagglutinins